Niners defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told reporters on Friday that Bowman is not expected to return until the midpoint of the season, according to the Bay Area News Group. Bowman -- who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL -- was placed on San Francisco's physically unable to perform list on Thursday.

Bowman is expected to begin the season on the Niners PUP list as well, which would make him ineligible for the first six games of the season. If the Niners go that route, Bowman's first chance to return would be a Week 7Sunday Night Football matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Bowman suffered a grisly knee injury in the second half of the Niners' NFC Championship Game loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 19. He underwent surgery on Feb. 4.